DISSOCIATIVE EXCITATION OF LITHIUM ATOMS IN COLLISIONS OF ELECTRONS WITH LICL MOLECULES

Inelastic collisions of electrons having energies of up to 100 eV with LiCl molecules have been studied by the method of extended crossing m olecular and electron beams. It is found that the process of dissociat ive excitation takes place, resulting in the appearance of an emission spectrum of lithium atoms within the wavelength range from 240 to 820 nm. Optical excitation functions have been measured for ten lines of the spectrum. For three spectral series investigated, the cross sectio ns vary with the increase of the main quantum number, n, according to the formula Q(i)=A(i)n(-alpha(i)), where A(i) and alpha(i) are constan ts characteristic for each of the series.